Retaining holder for elongated flexible articles



July 8, 1958 A. w. RICE ETAL RETAINING HOLDER FOR ELONGATED FLEXIBLE ARTICLES Filed Aug. 30. 1957 INVENTORS AE'THUZ W. 2mg. fiG-UY \ALCEAWFQRD mm. AT TQQN EYS United States Patent RETAINING HOLDER FOR ELONGATED FLEXIBLE ARTICLES Arthur W. Rice, Fremont, and Guy W. Crawford, Hesperia, Mich.

Application August 30, 1957, Serial No. 681,277 3 Claims. (Cl. 24120) This invention relates to receptacles, and more particularly to a retaining holder for storing elongated flexible articles such as string, ribbons, or the like, used in connection with Wearing apparel or garments.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved retaining holder for elongated flexible articles used in connection with wearing apparel, the retaining holder being simple in construction, being compact in size, and providing a suitable means for storing elongated flexible articles such as shoestrings, ribbons, or the like in a conveniently accessible manner without allowing the articles to become tangled or otherwise unavailable for ready use.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved retaining holder for elongated flexible articles such as strings, ribbons, or the like, the holder being inexpensive to manufacture, being durable in construction, and being neat in appearance.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an improved retaining holder constructed in accordance with the present invention, shown in closed position.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the retaining holder of Figure 1 with its cover opened.

Figure 3 is an enlarged verticle cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, the improved retaining holder is designated generally at 11 and comprises a generally cylindrical receptacle 12 having a circular bottom wall 13 and an upstanding peripheral wall 14. The bottom wall 13 is formed with a circular aperture 15 located adjacent to the inside surface of the peripheral wall 14.

Diametrically opposite the circular opening 15, the peripheral wall is formed at its top edge with an outwardly extending hinge lug 16. Designated at 17 is a circular cover member formed with a hinge lug 18 which is hingedly connected to the lug 16 by a vertical rivet 19, as is clearly shown in Figure 3, whereby the cover 17 is hingedly connected to the receptacle 12 for swinging movement in a plane parallel to the top edge of the peripheral wall 14, and therefore also parallel to the circular bottom wall 13.

Diametrically opposite the hinged lug 18 the cover 17 is provided with a depending resilient latch arm 20 which is formed at its lower portion with an inwardly extending locking projection 21. The locking projection 21 is lockingly engageable in a detent recess 22 formed in the outer surface of the peripheral wall 14 diametrically opposite hinged lug 16. Thus, the cover 17 may be swung from the open position thereof shown in Figure 2 to the closed position thereof shown in Figure 1, and in said closed position the resilient latch arm 20 engages the peripheral wall 14 and the locking projection 21 interlocks with the recess 22.

Designated at 23 is a generally semi-circular locking bar formed of resilient metal, the ends of the locking bar 23 being reduced to define pivot lugs 24. The pivot lugs 24 are engaged in circular apertures 25 formed in the upstanding peripheralwall 14 of the container 12 and located at equal distances at opposite sides of the aperture 15. The bar 23 is shaped to extend closely adjacent to the inside surface of the peripheral wall 14 when the bar is swung to the position thereof shown in Figure 3, namely, to the position parallel to the bottom wall 13 of the receptable. In this position the bar 23 is adapted to clamp a portion of a string 26, or other elongated flexible article contained in. the receptacle 12- against the inside surface of the peripheral wall 14, whereby the ends of the flexible article may extend through the aperture 15 but will be frictionally held against extension from said aperture by the clamping bar 23.

As will be readily apparent, the container 11 may be employed as a receptacle to store the loose or free ends of a shoestring or other flexible elongated article 26, since said free ends may be tucked or wound up inside the receptacle 12 and retained therein by closing the receptacle. Thus, for example, with the cover 17 in its open position, the ends of the string 26 may be pulled through the aperture 15 and may be then clamped by rotating the locking bar 23 from its dotted view position to its full line position of Figure 3. The free end portions of the string or ribbon 26 may be then tucked in to the receptacle 12 and the cover 17 may be then swung to its closed position, shown in Figure 1, whereby the free ends of the string or ribbon 26 will be housed within the holder 11 and will be thus retained safely in a neat and inconspicuous manner. To release the free ends of the string or ribbon 26, it is merely necessary to open the cover 17 and to swing the resilient locking bar 23 upwardly from its full line position to the dotted line position thereof shown in Figure 3, whereby the ends of the string or ribbon 26 are unclamped and are freely allowed to move through the aperture 15.

While a specific embodiment of an improved retaining holder for elongated flexible articles has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A retaining holder for elongated flexible articles comprising a receptacle having a bottom wall and an upstanding peripheral wall, said bottom wall being formed with an aperture adjacent said peripheral wall, a cover member hingedly connected to the top edge of said peripheral wall and being swingable to cover said receptacle, and a locking bar in said receptable pivoted at both ends to said peripheral wall at points spaced on opposite sides of said aperture, said locking bar being shaped to extend closely adjacent to the inside surface of said peripheral wall when swung to a position parallel to said bottom wall and being adapted to clamp a portion of a flexible article extending through said aperture to said inside surface.

2. A retaining holder for elongated flexible articles comprising a receptacle having a bottom wall and an upstanding peripheral wall, said bottom wall being formed with an aperture adjacent said peripheral wall, a cover member hingedly connected to the top edge of said peripheral wall for swinging movement in a plane parallel to said top edge and being swingable to cover said receptacle, latch means on the cover member lockingly engageable with said peripheral wall to yieldably secure the cover member in a closed position, and a locking 3 bar in said receptacle pivoted at both ends to said peripheral wall at points spaced on opposite sides of said aperture, said locking bar being shaped to extend closely adjacent tothe inside surface 01": said peripheral wall when swung to a; position parallel to said bottom wall peripheral wall to yieldably secure the cover member to cover said receptacle, depending resilient latch means 1 on the cover member lockingly engageable with said in closed position, and a resilient arcuate locking bar in said receptacle pivoted at both ends to said peripheral wall at points spaced on opposite sides of said aperture, said locking bar being shaped to extend closely adjacent to the inside surface of said peripheral wall when swung to a position parallel to said bottom wall and being adapted to clamp a portion of a flexible article extending through said aperture to said inside surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 754,851 Comp Mar. 15, 1904 FOREIGN PATENTS 48,880 Germany Nov. 6, 1888 

